A lawyer has requested Chief Justice Martha Koome to suspend all court proceedings slated for Wednesday, June 25, in honour of Albert Ojwang, who allegedly died at the hands of police officers.
In a letter to the CJ, Francis Njoroge, an advocate, implored CJ Koome to order the temporary suspension of court activities to allow for reflection on the state of justice and reinforce the Judiciary’s commitment to public safety and accountability.
Further, he proposed four areas of dialogue that the Judiciary could spearhead and facilitate national mourning for the slain popular influencer.
“I respectfully request the temporary suspension of sittings by all courts across Kenya on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, to honour Mr. Ojwang's memory, allowing for reflection on the state of justice and reinforcing the Judiciary's commitment to public safety and accountability,” Njoroge stated.
“By suspending court sittings in honour of Albert Ojwang, Kenyans would not only pay tribute to a citizen whose life was unjustly taken but also reinforce the Judiciary's role as a pillar of justice and accountability in Kenya,” he added.
The advocate proposed that the Judiciary assist in educating the public on the rights of arrested persons and educating security agencies on the application of arrest warrants.
Further, he recommended that the Judiciary facilitate the education of telecommunication companies on the need for warrants before divulging personal data. This was in addition to educating the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on the abuse of power in using public resources to investigate and arrest Kenyans due to civil claims such as defamation.
His request comes amidst plans to hold nationwide demonstrations over Ojwang’s demise and also to mark a year since the June 25 anti-Finance Bill protests witnessed last year.
On Friday, June 13, families of fallen Gen Z victims during the June 25 protests issued a formal notice to the Central Police Station, seeking permission to hold a peaceful procession in their honour.
Accompanied by notable activists, the families informed the police that they wish to organise peaceful marches on June 25, 2025, to the Office of the President and Parliament, in remembrance of the young people who died while protesting against the Finance Bill 2024.
According to the families, the planned protest was intended to be a peaceful procession.
Participants were to gather to commemorate the lives lost during the demonstrations by laying flowers and lighting candles outside Parliament, where most of the victims died, as a symbolic gesture to honour their memory.
Additionally, the families were also to issue a memorandum for justice, a written statement outlining their grievances and demands.
In his request, Njoroge cited Koome’s move to order a nationwide closure of all courts in Kenya on June 18, 2024, after the death of Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti. Kivuti passed after being shot by a police officer during court proceedings at the Makadara Law Courts.
“After her death at the hands of a police officer, you ordered the closure of all courts nationwide on 18th June 2024 as a day of mourning, remembrance, and prayers,” he expressed.
As per Njoroge, the move not only commemorated Magistrate Kivuti's life but also pointed to the Judiciary's resolve to address security concerns and protect judicial officers and court users.
